Caribbean Cadet camp a success

The curtains came down on the 2008 Caribbean Cadet Camp on Sunday, 27th July, with an impressive closing parade which was attended by regional Commandants who were here to attend the 21st Caribbean Cadet Commandants Conference.{{more}}

The parade was reviewed by the Commissioner of Police, who is the Chairman of the local Cadet Force Advisory Committee. The Deputy Camp Commandant Captain Curtis Dennie, in addressing the parade, described the camp as an overwhelming success. The camp, which was code named ‘Camp Yurumein’, was conducted under the theme: The Caribbean Cadet Experience…a Unifying Force. It was attended by cadets from Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and hosts St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The camp, which was conducted over a period of twelve days, featured a combination of military and non military training, which included field exercises, range firing, mass causality, management, basic rescue, and disaster preparedness. Competitions involving teams from the various contingents were also conducted in drill, physical fitness, road relay, causality run and tug-o-war. The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cadet Force emerged as the overall winner in the competitive events.

As part of this camp, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cadet Force also hosted the annual conference of Regional Cadet Commandants on Saturday, July 26, at the NEMO headquarters.

The Commissioner of Police Keith Miller gave the feature address during the opening ceremony. The conference, which was held under the theme “Venture and Visions Enhancing the Caribbean Cadet Experience,” allowed the Commandants to make a number of important decisions, among which were plans to formally launch a Caribbean Cadet Training Manual. It was also agreed that Jamaica would continue to host the regional secretariat and conduct the 2009 regional shooting competition. Barbados is expected host the International Cadet Challenge Camp in July next year. A series of other issues ranging from increasing regional exchanges, the BTEC Programme, and matters pertaining to finance and publicity were also discussed.

The conference was chaired by Lieutenant Colonel Dwight Lewis who was presented with the Orb by the outgoing chairman Colonel Lemuel Lindo, of Jamaica. The Orb is the symbol of chairmanship of the Caribbean Cadet Association.

In addition to the conference, the Commandants attended a medal presentation at Government House, where His Excellency Sir Frederick Ballantyne presented Majors Bertillon Hamilton, of St. Vincent, Patrick Skeete, of Barbados, and Glyne Dunnah, of Antigua/Barbuda, with the Caribbean Cadet Medal for meritorious service to the regional cadet movement.